Power lift mechanism



June 8,1926. 1,587,648 0. W. HOWARD ET AL POWER LIFT MECHANISM FiledvJune 11. 1923 5 sheets-Sheet l Narlllllliillflll I June 8 1926.

- 0.. w. HOWARD ET AL POWER LIFT MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June11, 1923 June 8,1926. .7 1,587,648 O. W. HOWARD ET AL POWER LIFTMECHANISM Filed June 11. 1923 5 Sheets-sheaf. 5

lizueizzars June 8 ,1926. ,-1,587,648 o. w. HOWARD ET AL POWER LIFTMECHANISM Filed June 1],, 1923 5 Sheets-Shet 4 0/25 Howard fizzy P5076172 June 8 1926. 1,587,648 o. w. HOWARD r m.

POWER LIFT MECHANISM Filed June 11, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I l- 1':. HWWW I 2 /7 WWII, "i

Patented June 8, 1926.

UMTE'L s'r .e'r

orrswnnowAnn AND HENRY P. COB/BIN, OEMOLII'IE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS, BYMESNE ASSZGNMENTS, TO MOLIHE- IMZ LEMENT COMPANY, .[rt CURLEORATIGH O35ore.

POWER LIFT ItIE EANISIi Application filed June 11,1323. somerset-ewes.

mechanism.

lt relates particularly to powerlitt mechanisms ot' the type used withagricultural implements tor swinging; thecrank axles of such implementsto raise and lower the implements. It is shown and described inconnection with a universal agricultural tool carriage of the type settorth'in the copending application of Joseph 1*. Roda, Serial Note-i581,filed June 11, 182?.

Implement po werli'tt mechanisms of this general type are constructed'sothat, when set into operation, they will n'iove through a cycle ofmovement and then automatically stop. It i s 'possi ole, however, due tothe weightot the implement; tor a mechanism of this character to move soquickly, when the implement is beinglowered. that it will reach the endof its cycle before the operator will have released the controllinglever, in which event, with the controlling lever in tripped position,the powerlitt will move through another cycle of movement, which is notdesired. Y

It may" also happen that one of the ground wheels of the implement willnot be rotating when the control lever is operated for tripping apowerlitt mechanism of this general type. implement is being turnec, oneof the ground wheels may remain substantially stationary;

The powerlitt associated with theavheel that is moving will he trippedinto operation, but it thetripping means for the other powerlitt isreleased before the ground wheel moves to actuate the powerlitt, the

tripping. means may return to itsdn'itial position and the powerlittwill not be actuated.- This leaves one side ot the machine loweredwhilethe other is raised. The present invention has been directed to thesolution o'f these problems.

The general object otthe invention is to provide an improved powerlittmechanism for agricultural implements.

A further object is to provide a powerliitt mechanism' and a controllingmeans whicln'when set for a given position, will insure thatthepowerlitt will move to that position regardless of whether ornot themovement starts iminediately.

A. further object is to provide a: power For example, it the movementthereof has beenv The invention relates to a powerlitt' lii't mechanismhaving control means which, when for a given position or the powerli'ttwill make it impossible for the powerliift to stop in any other lhan'theintended position.

Other ohgects and advantages of the invention will hereii .alter appear.

in. embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings in which,

Figure l is a perspective of a universal implement with the power-liftmechzunsm applied thereto.

Fi 2 is a section of one elf the powerlil't mechanisms.

Figure 8 is a section and pe 'tial side ele ation of the poweriitt mocha.1 showing it in the position it occupies when the machine is lowered.

Figure 4c is a view'similar to Figre 3, illustrating the position of theparts after the powerlitt has been tripped into oper tion and movementstarted.

Figure 5 is side elevation and partial section of the driving gears ofthe power li'it viewediirom the opposite side to that of Figure 4:.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the parts in theposition'they occupy when the machine raised and when the powerlittmechanism has automatically stopped.

' Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure (3 with the parts in the positionthey occupy when the powerliitt uiechanism'has been tripped to lower themachine and alter started.

The powerli'tt mechanism is illustrated in connectionwith a universalagricultural tool carriage, but it will he understood that it canfbeused with any'other suitaole agricultural implement.

The universal tool carriage includes draft l. and 2 connected togetherby a cross brace 3. Tlhe bars have their rear ends shaped at fl and 5for the rception of a supporting bar or other connecting; deviceforn'iing apart of a tool unit. Pivot'ed in hearings on the draft barsare crank axles 6 and 7 carrying ground wheels 8 and Supported on thecrank axles powerlitt exclude dust and dirt and to permit lubricanttolie retained tor oiling the parts. The

powerlift mechanisms have tripping levers 12 and 13 respectivelyconnected by links 14 and 15 to the cranked ends of shafts 16 and 17which are attached to a control lever 18. The control lever has a latch19 cooperating with notches in a locking bar 20 pivoted to the frame togive it a limited movement to tltfCOlIHllOCltltG the movement of thelever 18 with its latch, both of which move through an arc. The latch 19is biased by a spring 21 into engagement with the bar 20 so that thelatch snaps into the notches in the bar when moved to the properposition. For example, if the latch is operated to release the lever inthe position shown in Figure 1, and, if the lever is then movedclownwardly and stopped before it reaches the nothch 22, the lever willstay in the position to which it has been moved because the latchcontacts the edge of the bar with sufiicient firmness to hold the leverin position. hen the lever is moved down still farther, the latch willsnap into the notch 22 and hold the lever in position.

This rigid connection between the control lever and the powerliftsinsures that both powerlifts will be set into operation simultaneously.

The powerlift mechanisms intermittently rotate cranks 23 and 24 whichare connected by links 25 and 26 respectively, to links 27 and 28,which, in turn, are pivoted to bearings on the draft bars 1 and 2. Thecranks 23 and 24 are shown in Figure 1 in the position they occupy whenthe carriage is raised.

lVhen the powerlift mechanisms are moved through the next cycle ofmovement, the cranks move to a position approximately 180 degrees fromthat illustrated. If it be as Sllll'lGClllllElt the draft bars 1 and 2remain stationary, it will be understood that this movement will swingthe crank axles 6 and 7 upward closer to the draft bars. The effect isto lower the machine because the ground whcels on the crank axles alwaysremain in contact with the ground and the carriage itself movesdownwardly as the crank axles swing relative to the draft bars.

Both of the powerlift mechanisms are similar except one is right and theother left-handed so that a description of one will be sufficient for anunderstanding of both.

The powerlift includes a gear 30 illustrated in Figure 2, which isjournalled on the crank axle 7 and which is connected to the hub of theland wheel 9. This gear is in mesh with an annular gear 31 journalledloosely on the stub shaft 32' having the crank 24 integral with it. Theinterior of the gear 31 is provided with a plurality of notches 33,illustrated more clearly in F igure 5. Cooperating with these notches isa roller34 carried by a dog 35 oivoted at 36 on a disc 37 keyed to thestub shaft 32. The dog 35 is normally biased by a spring 38 resting atone end on the lug 39 and having its other end engaging the dog to causethe roller 34 to engage in one of the notches 33 in the rotating gear31. The gear 31 rotates continuously with the land wheel, and if theroller 34 is in engagement with one of the notches 33, the disc 37 islocked to gear 31 and the stub shaft 32 will be rotated with the gear,thereby rotating crank 24.

The dog 35 is held so that the roller 34 is disengaged from the notches33 by latches 40 and 41 pivoted to the housing at 42 and 43respectively. These latches carry rollers 44 and 45 respectively whichengage in a notch 46 in the periphery of the disc 37 and which alsoengage the projecting end 47 of the dog 35. The two latches 4t) and 41are connected by a spring 48 for a purpose which will be hereinafterdescribed. The latches are provided with projections 49 and 50respectively, which are engaged by corresponding' projections 51 and 52carried by a tripping arm 53 having an oblong opening 54 to accommodatethe stub shaft and associated parts. The tripping arm 53 is pivoted to55 and it has integral with it what has heretofore been called thetripping lever 13. It should be noted that the contact between theprojections 51-49 and 5250 is a rolling contact which develops littlefriction and has long life.

hen the machine is in lowered position, the parts occupy the positionillustrated in Figure 3. The projection 51 of the tripping lever 53 isin engagement with the projection 49 to positively hold the latch 40 outof contact with the plate 37. This puts the spring 48 under tension andresiliently holds the latch 41 in the notch 46 and in engagement withthe projecting end 47 of the dog 35, thereby holding the roller 34 outof engagement with the notches 33 and the rotating gear 31. The clutchis accordingly disengaged and the disc 37 is locked in position by thelatch 41.

lVhen it is desired to raise the machine, the lever 18 is pulledupwardly which swings the lever 17 in a clockwise direction pushing downon the link 15. This swings the tripping lever 13 clockwise and movesthe arm 53 to the position illustrated in Figure 4. This moves theprojection 51 out of contact with the projection 49, permitting thelatch 40 to move so that the roller 44 engages the periphery of the disc37. T he same movement of the arm 53 causes the projection to engage theprojection 50 on the latch 41 to positively move the latch out ofengagement with the notch 46. At the same time, the spring 48 is putunder tension to resiliently pull the latch 40 to the positionillustrated in Figure 4. Vhen the latch 41, with its roller 45 has beenmoved out of notch 46 and out of engagement with the projection 47 the srin 38 biases the dog 35 to in tnrnithc stuh shaft witlrthecrarik' 24-is rotated with the disc. set into operation and the position of the hasmoved about half way around toward 1ts nextposition. "It Will heobserved that the movement of the tripping lever-has posinively'movedthelatch' L1 out of engage inent'wvith" the disc 37 and=has heldit out 01 engagement andyat'thesame time ,"the

The clutch is thus ment With-the disc-3'? so that the roller et isriding'onthe" periphery of the disc, ready to snap into notch 46Wl1611tl18 notch reaches a position oppbsite' the roller;-

When the notch 16 reaches a? position op-- posite the roller 4c t, the'roller snaps into the notch underthe tension of the spring 48 Whosetension-ls greater: than the resistive action of the spring 38, whichaction tore-es the' pro ecting end' 17 of the dog 35 back- \vardlyagalnst the 'tens1on' of spring 38,

thereby disengaging the r0l-ler3 t from the notch 33 "with vvhic'h ithas been in engagement; This automatically stops the clutch and 'locksit in position. The position that theparts 'occupy is illustrated inFigure 6. It Will he observed that the crank axle 7 has reached an alm(istvertical positionand that the crank 24% is pointing upwardly insteadof downwardly as in Figure 3. The Crank 2% has not moved throughanentire half revolution or l80'degrees. .Tnstead,'it has movedthrough'less than 180 degrees and, it

is loclred"inposition by the latch 10. "During' the "next 'movement itmoves through more 'thanlSO degrees to arrive in its original position,whereupon it is locked into position by the latch 41.

hen it is desired to lower thQJTIRChlDB, the lever 18 ispnsheddownwardly from the position of Figure 6, which moves the crank 17in acounterclockwise direction and pulls up on the link'15, This moves thetripping lever13 and the arm 53 COLllltCIClOClUVlSQ;

The position or the parts is illustrated in Figure? The projection 52has been moved out of 'cngagement"withprojection 50 and projection 51has been moved into engagement with projection T9. In other Words, thelatchtO has'heen positively moved out of engagement 'With the notch 46andhas heen' lifted clear of the disc 37, While the latch 41 hashcen'resiliently pulledfhy the spring 48 into engagement with the disc37 so that the roller notch 46' When that notch reachesa'positionopposite the roller 45. The disc 3? isshoxvn in Figure '2' with thenotch 4% moved shout 1-5 rides on the periphery of the disc and is inposition to engage the which it may have been in'engagement. partsaitermovement has becn started; 1s illustrated in Figure 41: where the notch46 .jectingparts are the rotstmg crank roller t5, the roller is snappedintothe notch by the tension otspring 4:8 against the projecting end T7of the do; and theroller 34: is disengaged from the notch SS n'ith Animportant advanta e of this noiverliit .L .b i a.

is that it is positive ai d that, when once the: 1

control lever 18 is moved, the clutch can stop in only one position.FoneXample, when the lever 18 is raised upward from the position ofFigure 3 to that eflfiguref i, the latch 41 is positively moved out ofengage- 'ment and held out otengagement so that it other latch 1 10h'as'heen moved into engage-- cannot return to llSOl'lglliHl pos t on toprosame time, the opposite latch/His moved "so is inoperative to stopthe clutch. Also,

into engagement with thedisc 37 so that it tion to stop the clutch whenth-e disc trol lever has thus been moved is the posifimmediate'lybecomes active and is in a posireaches the next position. The onlypositicn in Which the clutch can stop at ter the con tion that wasintended, that is, the positions in Which, the notch 46 is opposite theroller 44. The same holds true whenthe control lever 18 is moveddoivnivardly from the 50,-,

sition of Figure 6 to that of Figure The latch 410 ispositively movedoutof engage-l ment it is moved" to the desired extent.

l Jith this construction the operator, by a trips looth clutches simultand held out otengagement vvhi'le the latch 11 is moved into engagementand held I in a positionto stop the clutch as soon as simple movement ofthe control"lever 18,! aneously and vhen 1 he'moves the control lever tooperate the,

clutches through a cycle of movement, the

clutches must inove through that cycle hematter Whether itoperatesimmediately or cause'jthe litt mechanism is set so that, no

corresponding-to t-he movement of they control lever. This insures thathothv sidcS ot the carriage will be raised; and pro vents any possbility of'oneside being raised While. the other is lowered.

By referring to Figure '2, it ivill be 510- served that there areseveral advantageous features of construction vi-hich add toythesimpllcity and strength of the powerhtt mechanism; Theclutch housing;-is made in two parts'GO 2111Cl61. The stulo shaft 32 i: journalled inthe housing sothatno extra bearings are required. I The housing isclamped to the crank axle 7. It con'ipletely surrounds the rotatingparts toexclude dust and dirt and to permit lubricant to he retainedWithin'the housing. Theonly'prd 241v itch is snugly fitted in thehearing in the housing and the tripping lever 13, which is pivoted tothe housing and which has a curved portion 62 that completely iills thenotch in the housing at all times to prevent the entrance of dirt andthe exit of lubricant. The trip ping levers 4L0 and 41 are pivotedopposite the disc 37 so that no overhanging bearings are required andthe housing is constructed so as to form a support for the bearings ofthe pivots on each side of the arm. This makes a simple and very rigidconstruction.

It will be understood that the construction shown is for purposes ofillustration and that variations may be made in it without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

e claim:

1. In a powerlitt mechanism for implements, a continuously rotatablemember, an intermittently rotatable member, connecting means forconnecting and disconnecting said members, said connecting means beingnormally biased to connecting position, and con trolling mechanismengaging said connecting. means to move it to and hold it indisconnected position, said controlling mechanism including deviceswhich, when the controlling mechanism is operated, act positively andindependently of the rotation of the rotatable members to release theconnecting means to permit it to connect the rotatable members togetherand which are set and held in position to cause the connecting means todisconnect the rotatable members only at a predetermined position ofsaid rotatable members.

2. In a powerlitt mechanism for implements having ground wheels, arotatable member rotated by an implement ground wheel, an intermittentlyrotatable member, connecting means normally biased to connect saidmembers together, and controlling mechanism for engaging said connectingmeans to move it to and hold it in disconnected position, saidcontrolling mechanism including members which, when the controllingmechanism is operated, are moved by it to and held in definitepositions, one of said members being held out of engagement with theconnecting means so that said means is free to connect the rotatablemembers together and the other member being moved to and held inposition where it will engage the connecting means to cause it to disconnect the rotatable members after they have moved through a predeterminedcycle.

3. In an implement powerlit't mechanism, a continuously rotatablemember, an intermittently rotatable member, connecting means normallybiased to connect said members together, and a controlling mechanism forthe connecting means including two latches for alternately engaging theconnecting means to move it to and hold it in dis connected position,said controlling mechanism also including a controlling device for thelatches which serves, when operated, to positively move and hold one ofthe latches out of engagement with the connecting means to permit thelatter to connect the rotatable members together and which moves theother latch to a position where it will engage the connecting means tocause the latter to automatically disconnect the rotatable members afterthey have moved through a definite cycle.

t. In an implement powerlitt mechanism, a continuously rotatable member,an intermittently rotatable member, connecting means normally biased toconnect said members together, and a controlling mechanism for theconnecting means including two latches for alternately engaging theconnecting means to move it to and hold it in dis connected position,said controlling mechanism also including a controlling device tormoving the latches which serves, when operated, to positively move andhold one of the latches out of engagement with the connecting means topermit the latter to move to connect the rotatable members together, andto simultaneously move the other latch and place it under tension in aposition where it will engage the connecting means and move it todisconnected position after the rotatable members have moved through adefinite cycle.

5. In an implement powerlitt mechanism, a continuously rotatable member,an intermittently rotatable member, connecting means normally biased toconnect said members together, and a controlling mechanism for theconnecting means including two latches for alternately engaging theconnecting means to move it to and hold it in disconnected position,said controlling mechanism also including an operating device for thelatches, said operating device serving, when moved in one direction, tomove the latch that is in engagement with the connecting means out ofengagement with the connecting means and the second latch to a positionto engage the crmnecting means to cause it to disconnect the rotatablemembers, and, when moved in the other direction, to move the secondlatch out of engagement with the connecting means and the first latchinto position to engage the connecting means to cause it to disconnectthe rotatable members.

(3. In an implement powerli'ft mechanism, a continuously rotatablemember, an intermittently rotatable member, means tor counecting themembers together, and mechanism for controlling the connecting meansincluding two latches and a controlling device for the latches servingto positively move one latch out of engagement with the connecting meansto permit the latter to coin nect the members together and toresiliently move the other latch in position to automatically disengagethe connecting means after the rotatable members have moved through apredetermined cycle of movement.

7. In an implement poWerlitt mechanism, a continuously rotatable member,an intermittently rotatable disc having a notch in its periphery, a dogmechanism carried by the disc normally biased to engage the continuouslyrotatable member to connect the disc to said member, a pair of latchesfor engaging the notch in the disc and for engaging the dog mechanism todisengage the latter from the continuously rotatable member, anoperating means for the latches serving to positively move one latch outof the notch in the disc to thereby permit the dog mechanism to connectthe disc to the continuously rotatable member and serving tosimultaneously move the second latch into engagement with the peripheryof the disc so that it Will be in position to automatically enter thenotch to disengage the dog mechanism after the disc has moved through apredetermined cycle of movement.

8. In an implement powerlift mechanism,

a continuously rotatable member, an intermittently rotatable disc havinga notch in its periphery, a dog mechanism carried by the disc andnormally biased to engage the continuously rotating member to lock thedisc to said men'iber, a pair of latches adapted to bear against theperiphery of the disc and to enter the notch therein and to engage thedog mechanism to disconnect it from the rotating member, a resilientconnection between the latches, a controlling member adapted to engagesaid latches alternately with a rolling contact to positively move onelatch out of engagement with the notch and simultaneously cause theother to engage the periphery of the disc through the medium of theresilient connection between the latches and, in the next movement, tomove the other latch out of engagement with the disc and simultaneouslymove the first latch into engagement With the disc.

In testimony whereof, We atfix our signatures.

OTIS W. HOWARD. HENRY P. CORBIN.

